18% of Australians who took their own lives in 2017 worked in the hospitality industry
This May 24 Hospo for Life will launch to raise awareness of the suicide crisis in the Australian hospitality industry and build partnerships to support workers.
Hospo For Life, through its partnership with Altius Group, aims to provide practical mental health support to workers in all aspects of hospitality – from front of house, to kitchen, to administration.
Almost 1 in 5 Australians who take their own life each year work in the hospitality industry, with irregular hours, reduced family time and substance abuse frequently factoring in the tragic outcome. Rising casualisation of employment throughout the industry has also increased financial stress, impacting the mental health and wellbeing of hospitality workers.
Altius Group will provide psychological counselling services and mental wellbeing programs specifically tailored to address the challenges faced by hospitality workers. This will include access to the AltiusLife app which provides real time access to mental health and wellbeing resources on a worker’s smartphone, for support when and where they need it.
Altius CEO Derick Borean welcomed the partnership with Hospo For Life, “Failing mental health is a real and unfolding tragedy throughout Australia, deeply affecting the hospitality industry. Making a tangible difference to workers on the ground through Hospo For Life is one way we can help those struggling to cope. We want to give hospitality workers the same opportunity for mental health support given to workers in the corporate and government space. It’s important that, whatever your chosen career path, you’re able to be supported when you need a helping hand, and Hospo For Life is dedicated to doing just that.”
(Photo: Chef Liam Crawley)
Chef Liam Crawley is passionate about launching Hospo for Life, “I’ve spent over 20 years working in the hospitality industry, and I’ve seen too many people who feel like they have no support when times get tough. The kitchen can be an incredibly lonely place, and most chefs aren’t celebrities with groups of people around them demanding their advice. Most chefs earn enough to look after their family, and simply don’t have the time or flexibility to take a day off to seek the help that they know they need”.
“Every day and night around Australia, we have hospitality workers sacrificing dinner with their family in order to make or serve dinner to others. Hospitality employees are working through Christmas, Easter and other significant holidays and we often forget the impact this may have on them. Penalty rates can help keep a roof over your head, but there is no amount of money that can make up for being with your family and friends – for that we need to make sure people are supported”, says Liam.
Further Information:
Susannah Miall
Altius Group Corporate Wellbeing Specialist
Email: smiall@altius-group.com.au
